Thought i would give you another update on the old lunch box, i am now starting to do the rebuild. i have just about completed the chassis i am waiting on the new suspension to turn up so that i can run the same tires and rims as my tow vehicle, i decided to go with a 50 mm solid axle with leaf springs and 12" electric brakes. it was a hard decision as i was going to go with independent coil suspension but i had a nagging worry about getting parts to the outback quickly if i damaged anything when looking for new ground.
Once i have fitted the new suspension to the chassis i will remove it again so the chassis can be sandblasted and coated. i am currently working on the wall frames, cutting out the serious rust and replacing that with new tube, the not so serious rust i will treat then paint the frames with red oxide paint. There are a few pictures to look at if you like.
Alan, Have you a budget that you are working to? What will you save dollar wise by "rebuilding", rather than building totally from new materials? I understand the satisfaction in a restoration but often wonder when I see such major rebuilds; Wouldn't you end up with a much better unit if total new build?
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Yes i am working to a "sort of budget" Buuuuut if something needs to be cut out and replaced i will although a lot of this steel you see in the pics will clean up okay, some things i add to the van i will have to use new steel. A lot of the times you might not need full lengths of steel and if you are lucky some steel suppliers might sell you 4 m lengths so i suppose with the price of steel i guess i am trying to save a bit on some things so i can spend a bit more on other stuff.
I would love to be able to buy brand new steel it would be good but at the end of the day once it is blasted and painted most people won't no the difference and if i get ten to fifteen years out of the lunch box i will be more than happy. I have to put it in perspective that the van will never be a show pony it is a commercial van which will spend most of its life in the bush prospecting as long as it is strong and wont let water in i will be more than happy. Let me tell you a short story about what i some times see in the out back.
I know and see other vans in the bush while i am out there but i also see what the parts of there vans they leave behind on the tracks. One day i was on my way back from my camp a couple of hundred k's the other side of Laverton and i came a cross a bloke and his missus blocking the track. There vans back end was sitting on the ground and going no where, they broke the chassis and welds where the draw bar meets the vans body and had no real tools to fix it. I ended up helping them out and it took some time but we got the draw bar back to where it was supposed to be and i welded it back in place to the best of my ability using a few batteries linked together etc etc. the next day we got back to Laverton where i left them to it.
Now that was a near new van and i am not going to reveal the make as i don't want any flack from people who own the same make but what contributed to the problem was travelling to fast with the tires pumped up as if you were travelling on black top and over loading the back of the van.
So for me i am happy doing the rebuild, some folk's might be happy buying all new stuff when doing a rebuild but i figure if it's still okay and you can get away with a clean up with out it failing why not use it. And probably the biggest reason for most of us blokes is the bank manager questioning the invoices LOL
Yes i am working to a "sort of budget" Buuuuut if something needs to be cut out and replaced i will although a lot of this steel you see in the pics will clean up okay, some things i add to the van i will have to use new steel. A lot of the times you might not need full lengths of steel and if you are lucky some steel suppliers might sell you 4 m lengths so i suppose with the price of steel i guess i am trying to save a bit on some things so i can spend a bit more on other stuff.
I would love to be able to buy brand new steel it would be good but at the end of the day once it is blasted and painted most people won't no the difference and if i get ten to fifteen years out of the lunch box i will be more than happy. I have to put it in perspective that the van will never be a show pony it is a commercial van which will spend most of its life in the bush prospecting as long as it is strong and wont let water in i will be more than happy. Let me tell you a short story about what i some times see in the out back.
I know and see other vans in the bush while i am out there but i also see what the parts of there vans they leave behind on the tracks. One day i was on my way back from my camp a couple of hundred k's the other side of Laverton and i came a cross a bloke and his missus blocking the track. There vans back end was sitting on the ground and going no where, they broke the chassis and welds where the draw bar meets the vans body and had no real tools to fix it. I ended up helping them out and it took some time but we got the draw bar back to where it was supposed to be and i welded it back in place to the best of my ability using a few batteries linked together etc etc. the next day we got back to Laverton where i left them to it.
Now that was a near new van and i am not going to reveal the make as i don't want any flack from people who own the same make but what contributed to the problem was travelling to fast with the tires pumped up as if you were travelling on black top and over loading the back of the van.
So for me i am happy doing the rebuild, some folk's might be happy buying all new stuff when doing a rebuild but i figure if it's still okay and you can get away with a clean up with out it failing why not use it. And probably the biggest reason for most of us blokes is the bank manager questioning the invoices LOL
I must admit the first time i brought the lunch box home the exact words were " Oh it made it " short and sweet with a frown and i must admit i still have this disability when i want to purchase something for the van is that i mumble, can't seem to flick that one. Any how must go and put a day in at the van.
Hi Trekka , you sound like a very handy bloke who likes to get the satisfaction of doing something yourself , you know what you want and your gonna do it despite naysayers . I love doing projects like you are , its great pulling things apart and seeing how it was done and making improvements . You probably have because I see you have modified the a/frame for a new hitch ,but I'd be checking the chassis steel for rust from the inside out. What size and gauge is the a/frame is it 150 mm? Anyway good on ya for having a go .
The frame of the van is steel so i am really only swapping out the bad for good, with the draw bar i have taken off some heavy items so with what i have done there i anticipate it will be slightly heavier than before. the caravans frame works in conjunction with the chassis an acts some what like a truss system and haser'nt failed yet since 1975 and i can imagine as an ex drillers van it has been dragged around the bush in no pleasant manner. Last week i updated the suspension and will re licence it to two tonne from 1700 kg to off set any extra weight i have added. as we speak the chassis is in the sand blasters getting cleaned up and powder coated, sorry that i have no pics for this post and will add them to the next post when i get the chassis back.
Thanks for the reply Alan. Still sounds heavy though. I have looked at your previous posts but can't find anything about the tow vehicle? What are you going to tow with?
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Live Life On Your Terms
DOUGChief One Feather (Losing feathers with age)
TUG.......2014 Holden LT Colorado Twin Cab Ute with Canopy
DEN....... 2014 "Chief" Arrow CV (with some changes)
The van might look heavy but prior to the rebuild it tared at 1300 kg. I have taken out a few heavy items like the full size house fridge and oven, steel framed beds and steel framed partition wall etc. It might not seem much but it all adds up, they used to use heavy steel in 1975 as opposed to the likes of duragal and other modern light weight steel of today. I anticipate it should tare out 150 - 200 kg heavier give or take hence upgrading the suspension so i still have a reasonable pay load.
The tow vehicle i have is a Landcruiser 79 series ute so there shouldn't be any problems when the van is finished as it towed it okay prior to the rebuild. Pity it wasn't an auto though i am feeling a bit lazy lol.
Even though I used to jump off the back shed with a towel hanging off my back thinking I was superman I am no man of steel so don't know anything about it sorry. It just sounds heavy.
At least you will be able to get a new Tare and ATM from the weighbridge and you know how the van was built and where cables etc are.
Keep up the good work.
__________________
Live Life On Your Terms
DOUGChief One Feather (Losing feathers with age)
TUG.......2014 Holden LT Colorado Twin Cab Ute with Canopy
DEN....... 2014 "Chief" Arrow CV (with some changes)
